The IYNA
The IYNA
Since its inception, the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) has strived to make, refine, and distribute high-quality, accessible neuroscience resources. In particular, we aim to level disparities in neuroscience education caused by socioeconomic and geographic differences. We accomplish this by catering events to multiple time zones and hosting all events virtually, so that anyone with internet can attend. Find out more about the passionate staff and volunteers running the organization below!
Executive Staff
Executive Director
Jiya Mody
Jiya is a senior at the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences. Through her work in IYNA, she hopes to make access to neuroscience resources more equitable. Within the IYNA, she works on planning the Brain Bee Bootcamp and collaborating with IBB. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and volunteering as an EMT.
Board Chair
Jacob Umans
Jacob Umans is a current MD/PhD student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and serves as Board Chair of the International Youth Neuroscience Association. He co-founded the IYNA as a high-school student, and is committed to making the IYNA a community in which students can explore a future in neuroscience and make like-minded friends while doing so.
Staff and Volunteers
Editor-in-Chief
Annie Pan
Annie is an undergraduate student at The Johns Hopkins University. She's originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Youth Neuroscience Association Journal where she is in charge of ensuring monthly IYNA issues are released on time and uphold the IYNA standard. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends.
Operations Lead
Shrika Vejandla
Shrika is a grade 12 high school student from Toronto, Canada. She hopes to promote accessibility to all the exciting, open-access initiatives that IYNA has to offer, and contribute to maintaining the organisation’s commitment to high-quality neuroscience education. Her roles include maintaining the organisation through logistical tasks and managing volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys reading making Pinterest boards and biking.
Brain Bee Bootcamp Director
Roshan Amurthur
Roshan is a rising sophomore at the Harker School in California. He hopes to assist and inspire the next generation of neuroscience students, and make the study of neuroscience more accessible to all. His roles in the organization include organizing and executing the neurosurgery webinar series and the Brain Bee bootcamp. In his free time, he enjoys reading, debating, and playing basketball.
Chapters Lead
Arla Xiao
Arla is a high school student from Vancouver, Canada who aspires to become an anatomical pathologist. She hopes to improve IYNA’s Chapter system through fostering more structure and networking opportunities. Her responsibilities include ideating new features for Chapters, managing logistical aspects, and organizing events exclusive to Chapters. Outside of IYNA, she spends an unhealthy amount of time poring over neural tube defects.
Partnerships Lead
Aditi Dewangan
Aditi is a high school junior in Seattle, Washington. Through her work in IYNA, she hopes to inspire students in the field of neuroscience by making events and competitions more efficient and accessible. Her role includes liaising with IYNA partner organizations. Additionally, she reaches out to high schools and universities to share the IYNA organization so that more students can access IYNA's resources. In her leisure time, she enjoys biking and volunteering at her local senior home.
Volunteer
Eve Harrison
Eve is a post-graduate at the University of Glasgow studying her masters degree in Brain Sciences. Through her work with IYNA, she hopes to help as many budding-neuroscientists as possible to enter the field and find the same passion that she has through her own studies. Her specific roles include developing the IYNA’s Youth Neuroscience Summer Program (2023), judging essay writing competitions, and being a Teaching Assistant in the 2022 Summer Course. In her spare time, Eve enjoys reading, diamond painting, watching movies and playing with her pet rats and hedgehog.
Volunteer
Sarah Liu
Sarah is a high school senior in Los Angeles, and she is passionate about the overlap between art and neuroscience. Sarah works on project execution and marketing within the IYNA, including the Youth Neuroscience summer program. Currently, she serves as the president of her school's Neuroscience Club and as the program leader for an art therapy recovery program at a hospital in Downtown Los Angeles. Additionally, she runs her own curated vintage and art business. In her free time, she enjoys playing and collecting electric guitars and vinyl records.
Volunteer
Felix Nickel
Felix is a senior at St. Petersburg college and a junior in high-school, his hope for working with the IYNA is to further establish a strong sense of community and efficiency within the organization for students and volunteers alike to grow through their mutual passion, and establish the IYNA as an enduring source of support for those aspiring to enter into the field. His roles include managing Human Resources, assisting in volunteer and program management, and streamlining communication systems. In his free time, he enjoys taking care of plants, painting, and reading.
Volunteer
Sofia Fothergill
Sofia is currently a junior on her city’s highschool, TISLS. She was Chile’s 2022 Brain Bee finalist and hopes to study medicine. One of her main objetives working with IYNA is to inspire young girls into pursuing STEM related careers. Her specific roles in the organization include managing our social media, and being in charge of our advertisement. In her free time she loves to practice theater and dance, and she also speaks two languages, Spanish and English.